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Pregnancy

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Original poster

Glucose tolerance test

20 replies

Lionsntigersnbears · 14/03/2013 11:37

Hi All,

Does your hospital offer this test routinely to everyone? I've been sent through an appointment for a test for next tuesday but with only three working days notice I can't rearrange work. I've tried rescheduling but there are no appointments at times I can make until outside the 'window' for doing the test so I'm a bit stuffed. If they'd told me the date more than 3 days ahead the story might be different but its too late now. Is this a routine test everywhere else? I'm not in a high risk group so maybe it wont matter...?

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Wishiwasanheiress · 14/03/2013 11:41

Irrelevant. It's a standard test. High risk group doesn't matter. I guess short notice is normal too, at least was for me. It's always in our hospital at same day/time. Id presume same at urs? Ask midwives. It does need to be roughly at a certain week but ur midwife could help. I'd be very surprised if u can't change it.

Wishiwasanheiress · 14/03/2013 11:41

By a week maybe but not 2 or 3

ButteryJam · 14/03/2013 11:42

Hi,

I had mine at the GP surgery, the nurse took it. You may be able to have it at the surgery.

phantomhairpuller · 14/03/2013 11:47

It's not a standard test. They will only do it if they have a reason to ie high BMI of mother or reason to believe baby is on the large side! That's what I was told by my midwife anyway. I didn't have it with DS1 but I wasn't as fat then! but had to have it this time. None of my friends who are pregnant had to have it.
Maybe it varies from area to area? I'd double check tho OP

Original poster

Lionsntigersnbears · 14/03/2013 11:56

Thanks for the quick replies! looks like there is some variation in areas. wishiwasanheiress (fab nn!) I haven't actually seen a midwife since the booking in a appointment so I wouldn't know who to ask. I've got an appointment to see one in two weeks time when I'll be 26/27 weeks but I guess that's pretty late too. Why on earth they think we can drop everything for a 3 hour appointment at no notice is beyond me! Is it that sensitive in terms of timing? buttery how did you organise that?

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StuckOnARollercoaster · 14/03/2013 12:36

I didn't realise there was a window, but I'm guessing from your second post you are 24 weeks? Well I've just had my GTT at 27 weeks - so I'm guessing that window must be wider than 1 or 2 weeks.
(Also in my area you only have it if there is a risk factor - in my case it was family diabetes history)

Ellypoo · 14/03/2013 12:39

I had my GTT at 28 weeks, so not sure about the window - they always do them at that time here, so maybe if varies by area.
Can you call your MW or surgery to re-arrange it - as said upthread, you don't necessarily have to have it at the hospital if that makes any difference?

Original poster

Lionsntigersnbears · 14/03/2013 15:47

Thanks Ellypoo and Stuck, I'll try to find out whether I can get this done at the GPs surgery.

OP posts:

FoofFighter · 14/03/2013 16:30

Lion, you don't have to have it done if you don't want to. I am booked in for one in May as they say my BMI is high, (its 32 and where I live the extra BMI care is supposed to kick in at 35 according to guidelines, so not impressed tbh!!) If I have no other reasons for having it done nearer the time I shall be cancelling.

(why have you not seen a MW yet??!)

chickenfactory · 14/03/2013 19:28

It's not standard in my area- I was on a study (how to prevent GD- my bmi was over 30) so had one at 28weeks as part of that. Lady next to me had hers at 32weeks as baby was measuring large on a scan (scan was for different reasons) so I can't see that there is a medical reason for the window.

goodygumdrops · 14/03/2013 19:32

It's done for people with bmi over 30 or family history in my area between 24 and 28 weeks. Uncontrolled gestational diabetes can be bad for baby so I would try to go one if the dates they offer you.

Original poster

Lionsntigersnbears · 14/03/2013 20:11

Hi all,
thanks for the replies. foof I've only seen a midwife for a booking in appointment at 8 weeks, then I had the 12 week scan and the 20 week scan. I was supposed to be able to get to see the midwife at my practice at 24 weeks but the earliest appointment she had was for 2 weeks from now, so I'll be 26 weeks coming up on 27 by then. Do you need/ get to see a midwife before this? I guess the midwife shortage is really kicking in here! Humm, that's interesting chicken I wonder why they were so shirty about my 'missing the window'. I'd love to take the test goody but I work full time and can't rearrange work at no notice at all. The other date they offered me I can't make as i'll be across the country for work. I'm quite peeved about it all to be honest. I don't think hospitals would expect men to be able to cancel everything for a 3 hour appointment at no notice, but women of course have nothing else to do

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goodygumdrops · 14/03/2013 20:18

The thing is, it may be crap and it maybe that they should give more notice, but at the end of the day it is in your baby's interest to have the test so either you have it or you don't and hope for the best. Having it a couple of weeks late isn't the end of the world but the sooner you do have it the better because if you do have GD the sooner it is detected, the sooner it can be managed and monitored.

Ezza1 · 14/03/2013 20:29

This is interesting as I picked up my maternity notes from clinic today following last weeks booking.

Reading through I noticed m/w had noted to do GTT at 28 weeks. This is my 4th baby and ive not had GTT done in last 3 pregnancies. BMI is 27.

2 of my babies were 10lb plus so I'm assuming thats the reason for GTT this time round.

Original poster

Lionsntigersnbears · 14/03/2013 20:35

goody, they're not offering it a couple of weeks of late. They say if I miss this window, that's it, which from what others have said on this thread sounds like BS but what can you do if that's their policy? Its also in my baby's best interests to have a roof over its head when its born, which it won't if its mummy doesn't work.

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ExpatAl · 14/03/2013 20:41

Is it really such a disaster to take time out for this test?

goodygumdrops · 14/03/2013 20:42

Which is why you are legally entitled to time off work to attend antenatal appointments. Yes I know its not always that easy, but you really do have to put yourself first, or argue with the clinic to book you in the next available date you can do and accept the risk of leaving it later. If you are not a high risk group maybe the risk is not really very much at all and so it won't really matter.

Original poster

Lionsntigersnbears · 14/03/2013 20:56

I guess you're right goody, it probably wont matter and I'm not high risk, it just does annoy me that I could have had this test if they'd told me when it was before, or were willing to do it later. But it probably won't come to anything. Legally sure I'm entitled, but not without rearranging my classes or arranging some cover when its a routine appointment. Work, quite rightly, would spit the dummy at having to ask someone else to cover for me, which may involve a lot of prep if they need to deliver a lecture on a topic they're not all that familiar with, when the only 'emergency' is a failure to send a letter in good time. They knew they wanted to do this test 26 weeks ago. I found out yesterday. Grumble grumble grumble.

OP posts:

goodygumdrops · 14/03/2013 21:03

It is really really annoying, i don't disagree with you, grumble away! But i have learned that sometimes it is better to just go with the flow rather than get cross about the 'crapness' of it all sometimes, because I'm not sure there is any benefit to getting stressed about stuff like this, you still end up in the same place so you may as well just go with it! And in a few weeks when you have your squishy baby you wont care about all this ....it will be forgotten!

ExpatAl · 14/03/2013 21:06

It is weird that you only get one shot at it. For every test I've had I've chosen the date and time. Is it really genuinely so stretched in the UK? I'm british but have never been pregnant in the UK.

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